Weather and Its Effect on Mood: The Science Behind Atmospheric Changes & Mental Health
We’ve heard about weather-related aches and pains, but what about mood changes?
[NOTE: I posted a few podcast episodes around this topic earlier this year, but with multi-day storms and the flood watch we’re currently under here in Texas, I’ve compiled them into a longer post, as it definitely bears repeating!]
We’ve heard about weather-related aches and pains, but what about mood changes? Not only is it a real thing, it has a name: meteoropathy.
What is it?
In essence, meteoropathy means that our moods can be affected by atmospheric changes. Some people can feel a weather shift in their bones, literally. You’ve heard of people with various aches and pains exacerbated by weather. Think of meteoropathy as its moody cousin.
According to the Bureau of Meteorology, overcast and rainy days can lead to lower serotonin production, making some people feel down, sluggish, or melancholy. Extreme temperatures may be responsible for mood changes also. Increased aggression may be attributable to high temperatures, while low temps may increase feelings of isolation.
The science behind meteoropathy
Atmospheric pressure drops before storms can activate stress responses in the brain, contributing to feelings of unease or anxiety.
Barometric changes can particularly impact the fight, flight, or freeze mechanism in a subset of the population. When there are changes in barometric pressure, some people experience exacerbated stress levels, unease, or even panic or panic-like symptoms. A study out of South Korea even correlated these pressure changes with increased emergency room visits for panic attack symptoms. Experts believe this causal link with anxiety and atmospheric shifts lies with the fact that they affect the nervous system and brain chemistry.
Here are some of the major takeaways found:
Increased stress response: Sudden drops in pressure can trigger the body’s fight or flight response, which is a major contributor to feelings of anxiety. Studies suggest that people with existing anxiety disorders may be more prone to these anxiety-related effects.
Headaches and fatigue: Barometric pressure drops trigger migraines for me. I have an app on my phone that tracks barometric pressure changes. In fact, many have noted headaches or sluggishness before storms, which in turn can contribute to irritability and emotional distress, sleep disturbances and disruptions.
Sleep disturbances: In my own lived experiences with meteoropathy, I have experienced sleep issues over the same time period as the last series of powerful storm fronts came through. Apparently, it’s not uncommon for people to struggle with sleep when the pressure changes. Additionally, sleep deprivation is a key factor in a number of mood and mental health conditions.
So now what?
Now that we know what meteoropathy is, it begs the question: if you do suffer from these weather-related changes in mood, now what? What can you actually do about it to mitigate the atmospheric impact on your mental health?
According to the National Institute of Health (NIH):
“Adopting a healthy lifestyle, including physical activity, a balanced diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, supplements containing magnesium and vitamin B complex, water consumption, normal circadian rhythms, and light therapy can help.”
Check out Are You SAD? for more on light therapy and Seasonal Affective Disorder. Additionally, in the episode HiveMind, I outlined how I was able to gamify the sleep problem. I mentioned that I take supplements before bed, including magnesium and vitamin B. I find that when I can get that with food, empty stomach window, just right to take them, I do far better. Your mileage may vary, and of course, since I’m not a clinician, do check with your primary care team before taking any supplements.
Having a toolkit at the ready to combat these mental health side effects is always a good idea! Toolkit items discussed on the podcast, along with the list of supplements can be found in our toolkit guide.
Read Mark 4:35ff, the account of Jesus calming the storm. Just because storms swirl about us doesn’t mean we need to get caught in the chaos. God can calm the crackling currents in the air and in our neurons. Psalm 107:29 says, “He calmed the storm to a whisper, and the waves of the sea were hushed.”
